Startups unveil new strategy to boost Europe’s growth
Startup associations from the leading digital European states presented a strategy to stimulate the tech ecosystem’s growth.
Published on March 27, 2025
Team IO+ selects and features the most important news stories on innovation and technology, carefully curated by our editors.
A group of startup organizations from ten European countries has published a comprehensive strategy to give impetus to Europe’s tech landscape. As Europe faces mounting challenges like limited access to growth capital and fragmented digital infrastructure, the declaration proposes strategic measures to empower tech startups and scaleups, drawing attention to five critical areas.
The S9+ Declaration was launched by the European states with the best ranking in the Annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), referred to as D9+ countries. The strategy came ahead of today’s D9+ ministers' gathering in Amsterdam.
According to the declaration, startups are the lifeblood of Europe’s economic landscape, driving innovation, growth, and competitiveness. The declaration recognizes their pivotal role by addressing their significant obstacles, including scarce access to growth capital, fragmented digital infrastructure, burdensome regulations, and barriers to global markets. Such challenges potentially hinder Europe's standing in the technological hierarchy.
Five areas of action
The strategy identifies five areas that need to be addressed. These are enhancing AI competitiveness, simplifying data regulations, unlocking investment pathways for growth, preserving innovative sales methods, and bolstering digital infrastructure.
By bolstering AI infrastructure, Europe can provide startups essential access to cutting-edge technology, talent, and funding. This initiative seeks to position European startups as leaders in the global AI market, thus driving innovation and maintaining a competitive edge.
The S9+ Declaration also emphasizes the necessity of simplifying existing regulations and ensuring equitable data access. This approach aims to foster an ecosystem where startups can navigate the regulatory landscape with greater ease and confidence, ultimately thriving in a more favorable environment.
Dutch startups’ toughest hurdle: winning venture capital
Despite raising $3.5 billion in 2024, the Netherlands lags behind countries like the U.S. in per capita venture capital investment.
Capital, competition, and infrastructure
Europe's tech startups face a crucial challenge in securing growth capital. The declaration outlines strategies to bridge this funding gap by enabling institutional investors, including pension funds, to invest in venture capital actively.
In the digital marketplace, data-driven marketing tactics are vital for startups aiming to expand their reach. The S9+ Declaration safeguards startups' ability to employ targeted advertising, thereby maintaining a level playing field. Preserving innovative sales methods is essential for nurturing a dynamic and competitive startup landscape.
A solid digital infrastructure is paramount for European startups to compete effectively on a global scale. The S9+ Declaration stresses the importance of providing affordable access to high-quality computing power, cloud services, and reliable connectivity. By addressing these infrastructure needs, Europe can bolster its startup ecosystem, strengthening its position as a leader in global technological innovation.
The declaration was signed by: Dutch Startup Association (Netherlands), Danish Entrepreneurs (Denmark), Adigital and EsTech (Spain), Estonian Founders Society (Estonia), Scale-ups.be (Belgium), Czech Startup Association (Czech Republic), Finnish Startup Community (Finland), Startup Portugal (Portugal), Startup Poland (Poland), Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (Sweden), and Allied For Startups (EU).
Deeptech is Europe’s trump card for growth, says Dealroom.co
A recent analysis by the startup intelligence company sees deeptech as a massive driver for European growth.